There is a disturbing theory about the human species that
has begun to take on an alarming level of reality. It seems
that the behavior of the human race is displaying uncanny
parallels to the behavior of pathogenic, or disease-causing,
organisms.
When viewed at the next quantum level of perspective, from
which the Earth is seen as an organism and humans are seen as
microorganisms, the human species looks like a menace to the plan-
et. In fact, the human race is looking a lot like a disease — comprised
of organisms excessively multiplying, mindlessly consuming, and
generating waste with little regard for the health and well-being of its
host — planet Earth.
Pathogenic organisms are a nasty quirk of nature, although
they do have their constructive purposes, namely killing off the weak
and infirm and ensuring the survival only of the fittest. They do this
by overwhelming their host, by sucking the vitality out of it and leav-
ing poison in their wake. Pathogens don't give a damn about their
own source of life — their host — and they often kill it outright.
This may seem like a silly way for a species to maintain its
own existence; afterall, if you kill the host upon which your life
depends, then you must also die. But pathogens have developed a spe-
cial survival tactic that allows them to carry on their existence even after their host has died. They simply travel to a new host, sending
out envoys to seek out and infect another organism even as their own
population dies en masse along with the original host.
A man dying of tuberculosis coughs on his deathbed, an act
instigated by the infecting pathogen, ensuring that the disease has a
chance to spread to others. A child defecates on the dirt outside her
home, unwittingly satisfying the needs of the parasites inhabiting her
intestines, which require time in the soil as part of their life cycle. A
person stricken with cholera defecates in an outhouse which leaches
tainted water into the ground, contaminating the village well-water
and allowing the disease to spread to other unsuspecting villagers.
In the case of pathogenic organisms that kill their host, the
behavior is predictable: multiply without regard for any limits to
growth, consume senselessly and excrete levels of waste that grievous-
ly harm the host. When this is translated into human terms, it rings
with a disquieting familiarity, especially when we equate human suc-
cess with growth, consumption and material wealth.
Suppose we humans are, as; a species, exhibiting disease
behavior: we're multiplying with no regard for limits, consuming nat-
ural resources as if there will be no future generations, and produc-
ing waste products that are distressing the planet upon which our
very survival depends. There are two factors which we, as a species,
are not taking into consideration. First is the survival tactic of
pathogens, which requires additional hosts to infect. We do not have
the luxury of that option, at least not yet. If we are successful at con-
tinuing our dangerous behavior, then we will also succeed in march-
ing straight toward our own demise. In the process, we can also drag
many other species down with us, a dreadful syndrome that is already
underway. This is evident by the threat of extinction that hangs, like
the sword of Damocles, over an alarming number of the Earth's
species.
There is a second consideration: infected host organisms fight
back. As humans become an increasing menace, can the Earth try to
defend itself? When a disease organism infects a human, the human
body elevates its own temperature in order to defend itself. This rise
in temperature not only inhibits the growth of the infecting pathogen,
but also greatly enhances the disease fighting capability within the
body. Global warming may be the Earth's way of inducing a global
"fever" as a reaction to human pollution of the atmosphere and
human over-consumption of fossil fuels.
When the internal human body temperature rises, the microspecies, 25% of all mammals, and 50% of all primates are threatened
with extinction.5
Of 242,000 plant species surveyed by the World
Conservation Union in 1997, one out of every eight (33,000 species)
was threatened with extinction.6
What would drive humanity to damage its life support system
in this way? Why would we disregard our host organism, the Earth,
as if we were nothing more than a disease intent upon its destruction?
One answer, as we have seen, is consumption. We embrace the idea
that more is better, measuring success with the yardstick of material
wealth. Some startling statistics bear this out: the 225 richest people
in the world (0.000003% of the world's population) have as much
acquired wealth as the poorest half of the entire human race. The
wealth of the world's three richest people is equivalent to the total
output of the poorest 48 countries. We in the United States certainly
can raise our hands and be counted when it comes to consumption —
our intake of energy, grain and materials is the highest on the planet.
Americans can admit to using three tons of materials per month, each
of us, and that's not counting food and fuel. Despite the fact that we
are only l/20th of the globe's population, we use 1/3 of its resources.
We would require no less than three planet Earths to sustain the
entire world at this level of consumption.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Human species as pathogens
Friday, November 20, 2015
LiFE Low-impact Farmstay Experiment
Chelladurai is on a mission to reduce his carbon footprint on the planet. He takes Subha J Rao on a tour of his Low-impact Farmstay Experiment
It all started on September 1, 2010. Chelladurai aka Osai Chella, web media strategist, logo designer and White Hat SEO consultant, took the first step to make a difference to the world he lived in.
He drove his trusted Maruti 800 up Anaikatti and beyond, to Varakampadi, a hamlet in Kerala. His two-acre farm there, set in the slope of a valley and surrounded by windmills, was to be the venue of a unique Low-impact Farmstay Experiment (LiFE) — an attempt to return to the roots, in every way possible. He first stopped using everything chemical — out went toothpaste, toothbrush, soaps and shampoos. In came twigs, herbs and native products.
The energy spent on making every product was taken into account. “That's the reason I still use plastic; it is recyclable. A steel tumbler is more energy intensive,” he explains. He uses solar power. During the windy monsoons, a nano windmill (a cycle dynamo with fan blades) feeds the battery.
The attempt, financed by Chella's mother Sankaravadivu, was inspired by the Dancing Rabbits commune in Missouri where residents aim to live ecologically sustainable, socially rewarding lives, and Auroville. With the help of Raman, his tribal neighbour, he set about building a 144 sq-ft residence in the ‘tiny home' concept, using recycled wood and locally-made bricks.
Wild encounters
For the first couple of months, this growing space was Chella's home. Residents of the nearby forest, elephants, wild boar, peacocks and cobras, do pay him the occasional visit, but let him be. “I do not have anything they want,” he laughs. “I learnt from the tribals. They never keep anything fragrant — jackfruit or banana — at home after dusk,” he adds.
Chella raises edible greens, beans, avaraikai and herbs in his miniscule garden. The rest of the space is devoted to anything that chooses to grow there. “It increases bio-diversity. Even ‘weeds' have a purpose,” he says.
Initially, there were no ants or termites on the farm; “the land was not alive”. Nine months later, it teems with life. Minutes after we deposit a used plantain leaf in the garden, black ants crawl all over it. “Once they have had their fill, termites take over, and leave me with rich manure,” he says. Earthworms abound too.
Chella also attempts to eat local — ingredients guzzling food miles were banned. “I switched to minor millets, aval, and rice kanji, inspired by my neighbours”. His “No oil, only boil” breakfast gruel is famous online too. He plucks some greens and vegetables and adds them to a pot bubbling with salt, red rice and unpolished, unbroken dal from Raman's farm. That's his kanji.
“The most difficult part of this transition was learning to ignore creature comforts,” admits Chella. “But, I wanted to make it work, somehow!”
Low-impact living also boils down to the community, believes Chella. Provisions are always bought at the localpetti kadai. So is petrol. “Only then will the local economy and community prosper. Else, it will finally lead to migration and exploitation of natural resources.”
In the beginning, Chella spent weeks together on the farm, charging his laptop using solar power. Now, he splits time between his city home and office and pastoral haven — profession pays for passion. “Luckily, my clients understand me. It helps that my job does not require a fixed location.”
Some things about his abode rankle Chella, though — the asbestos roofing and ceramic floor tiles. “I tried to avoid these, but maintenance was an issue. It's a small compromise,” he shrugs. “But, I clean the floor using Effective Microorganisms solution.”
The best part about a low-impact life, says Chella, is that nothing is straightjacketed. You are allowed to modify to suit your lifestyle. “So, when I need extra energy, I use the local grid power (mainly hydel) at my friend's farm.”
Chella hopes to develop a sustainable farm in Varakampadi, planting lemon and other citrus fruits. “The jumbos will also keep away from them,” he says.
One with Nature
What has Chella learnt from this experience? “In this solitude, I live in communion with Nature. I've realised I'm part of a big whole. It's humbling.” There's a peculiar beauty about this life too. “Have you ever seen thousands of stars wink down at you through the night. You feel blessed.”
Luckily, his family — wife Shanti and son Jagan — understand his passion. Chella eventually hopes to work out of Varakampadi through the week and come downhill only for the weekend.
But, surely he misses something about city life? “Yes, relationships. Social interaction is limited here. But, Ilaiyaraaja's music, Facebook and my GPRS phone dull that pain.”
An alternative lifestyle
At the LiFE farm, set up at a cost of Rs. five lakh, Chella organises low-impact photo treks, artists translate the picturesque vistas on canvas and friends take an eco-friendly break.
Read Chella's chronicles athttp://lifefarmstay.blogspot.com
Read similar stories at
http://www.earth-auroville.com
and
http://m.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/life-is-like-that/article2081512.ece
Mazhai
மழை.. நான் கடலுக்கே போகிறேன்!
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நெஞ்சுருகி குமுறியதால் தானே வந்தேன்
பஞ்சம் என்று கதறியதால் தானே வந்தேன்
கெஞ்சி வேண்டியதாலே இரங்கினேன்,
உனக்காக கீழ் இறங்கினேன்.
கொஞ்சமும் நினைவு இல்லையா?
வஞ்சனை செய்கிறாயே
என்னை அழைத்து விட்டு ..
வறண்ட என் நிலக் காதலி
நான் முத்தமிட ஈர்த்திருப்பாள்
சுரண்டி அவள் மேனியெல்லாம்
சிமெண்டாலே போர்த்தி வைத்தாய்
நனைத்து அணைப்பதாலே
உடல் குளிர சுகம் கொள்வாள்
அனைத்தும் நிராகரித்து
கடல் சேரவே வழி செய்தாய்
குளம் குட்டை ஏரியென
அங்கங்கே தங்கியிருந்தேன்
வளம் கொளித்த அத்தனைக்கும்
பங்கம் செய்யவே வாழ்ந்திருந்தாய்
உனக்கு வழி வேண்டி
சாலைகள் நீட்டினாய்,
தொழிற்சாலைகள் கட்டினாய்,
காண்கிரீட் கட்டடமாய்
நிலமெல்லாம் நிரப்பினாய்.
நான் செல்லும் வழியடைத்து
திட்டமிட்டு துரத்தினாய்.
பூமித்தாய் மூச்சி விட திணறுகிறாள்!
மண் பார்க்க முடியாமல்
அவள் முகமெல்லாம்
மறைத்து விட்டாய்.
எனக்கென்று இருந்த சின்னஞ் சிறு
உறவுகள் தானே குளமும் குட்டையும்.
கண்மூடித்தனமாக
மண் போட்டு மூடி விட்டாய்.
என்னையே நம்பியிருந்த
கடைசி உறவுகளையும்
கொள்ளளவு ஏற்றியே உடைப்பெடுத்து
கொல்ல வைத்தாய்.
பள்ளம், குழி, சிறு தாழ்வு இருந்தாலே
வெள்ளமாய் தங்கி வாழ்வு தருவேனே?
உள்ளம் என்று இருந்திருந்தால்
கள்வன் போல் வசப்படுத்தி
கல் மண் கொட்டி குப்பை நிரப்பி
நீ மட்டும் தங்கும் தப்பை நினைப்பாயா?
என்னை வந்த வேகத்திலே
விரட்டி விட்டு
மண்ணை துளையிட்டு
நானூறு அடியில் என்ன தேடுகிறாய்?
நாற்பது அடியில்
கிணற்றின் மடியில்
நாளும் சுரந்தேனே !
ஊற்று, கால் என்றெல்லாம் நீ
முகர்ந்து குடிக்க மகிழ்ந்தேனே!
நினைவில்லையா?
எனக்கான இடத்தை நீ
உனக்காக வளைத்த மடத்தை
செய்யாமல் இருந்திருந்தால்
உன் கால் சுற்றி
கட்டிய வீட்டை சுற்றி
தேங்கி கிடக்கும் மடமையை
நானா செய்திருப்பேன்?
அவமானம் வேறு
வெகுமானமாக தருகிறாய்.
நீர் வடியும் இடமெல்லாம்
நீயாக அடைத்து விட்டு
பேரிடர் என்கிறாய்,
வெள்ளப்பெருக்கு என்கிறாய்,
மக்கள் அவதி என்கிறாய்,
இயல்பு வாழ்க்கை பாதிப்பென்கிறாய்.
அலுவலகம் செல்வதற்கு,
தொழில் நிற்காமல் நடப்பதற்கு,
மழை நிற்க வேண்டுகிறாய்.
பிழையாக குழி
நீ உனக்கே தோண்டுகிறாய்
உன் வாழ்வாதாரம் வேண்டியே
உன்னைத் தேடி நான் வந்தேன்.
உனக்கே வேண்டாம் என்ற போது
நான் கடலுக்கே போகிறேன்.
இனியாவது நீ திருந்துவாயா
உனக்காக நான் வந்தால் ?
- ஜெயராஜ் மணி
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Osai chella
கருவேலமரம் நீரை உறிஞ்சி விடுகிறது.. யூகலிப்டசும் அவ்வாறே . . . கேரிபேக்கால் தான் எல்லாமே கெட்டுவிடுகிறது . . . என்றஅப்பாவித்தனங்களை தாண்டி கொஞ்சம் சிந்திக்க வேண்டிய தருணம் இது ! ( உறிஞ்சிய நீருக்கு என்ன நேர்ந்துவிடும் என்று அறிவியல் பூர்வமாக சிந்தித்திருக்கிறோமா? எதன்மீதாவது பழிபோட்டு நம்மை தப்பிக்கவைத்துக்கொள்ளும் போலி அறிவு அது . . நம் வீட்டுக்கு தரப்படும் சுத்தமான தண்ணீரை நாம் எப்படி மாற்றிவிடுகிறோம் என்று கொஞ்சமாவது சிந்தித்திருக்கிறோமா ? நிலத்தடி நீரை 1000 அடி போர் போட்டு அதிகம் உறிஞ்சுவது பம்பு செட்களும் மனிதனும்தான் ) இயற்கையை நாம் குறைத்து எடைபோட்டுவிடக்கூடாது ! ஒரு சின்ன இயற்கை உறுப்பு செயலிழந்துவிட்டால் எத்தனை இலட்சங்கள் செலவழித்தும் பயனில்லாமல் போகிறது என்பதை ஒரு மருத்துவரிடம் கேட்டால் புரியும் ! இயற்கை எனப்படும் நீர் நெருப்பு நிலம் காற்று ஆகாயம் எனப்படும் பஞ்சபூதங்களும் நம்மை இந்த உலகத்தில்ஓரளவு மாறாவிகிதத்தில் இருக்கும் வரை.. நம்மை மட்டும் அல்ல.. இலட்சக்கணக்கான பலவித உயிர்களையும் அது உருவாக்கி பாதுகாத்து அழித்து தன் கடமைகளை ஆற்றிவருகிறது. ஆனால் அதன் உயர்ந்த பட்ச கருணையை அறிவை பெற்ற உயிரினமான நாம் நமது சிற்றறிவு பலத்தால் அதை மதிக்காமல் ஆடம்பர கார்கள் பங்களா பதவி என்று சீக்கிரம் அழியும் மாயைகளுக்கு ஆசைப்பட்டு இந்த பஞ்ச பூதங்களையும் சிதைக்கிறோம் .. நச்சாக்குகிறோம்... அழித்தே விட துணிகிறோம் ! மனிதனை விட இயற்கையை பாழ்படுத்தும் ஒரு விலங்கையோ, தாவரத்தையோ (க்ருவேல) மரத்தையோ நான் அறிந்திலன். இனியேனும் நமது செயல்கள் அனைத்தும் இயற்கையின் மீது மரியாதையாய் இருக்கும்படி நமது வாழ்க்கை முறையை மாற்றிக்கொள்வோம் என்று சபதமேற்போம் ! என்னை ப்பொறுத்தவரை நான் போதிக்கும் பின்பற்ற ம்யற்சிக்கும் குறை தாக்க வாழ்க்கை முறையை விட சிறந்த ஒன்றை இந்தப்பிறவியில் முக்கியமான அறிவாக... மதமாக... உணர்வாக... கண்டிலேன் ! மழை நீர் வடிந்ததும் மீண்டும் “பழைய கண்பார்வையற்றவள்.. கதவைத்திறடி” என்று இருந்துவிடாமல் ஞாயிறு, மண், மரம் மழை, மானுடம் போற்றி வாழ்வோம் !
Friday, October 16, 2015
Hell exothermic or endothermic
Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.
One student, however, wrote the following:
First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.
As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.
With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.
So which is it?
If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day in Hell before I go out with you", and take into account the fact that I went out with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over.
The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct . . . leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."
Dog money leopard story
A wealthy man decided to go on a safari in Africa. He took his faithful pet dog along for company. One day the dog starts chasing butterflies and before long the dog discovers that he is lost.
So, wandering about he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the obvious intention of having lunch. The dog thinks, "Ok no! I'm in deep doodoo now!" Then he noticed some bones on the ground close by, and immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat.
Just as the leopard is about to leap, the dog exclaims loudly, "Wow, that was one delicious leopard. I wonder if there are any more around here?"
Hearing this the leopard halts his attack in mid-stride, as a look of terror comes over him, and slinks away into the trees. "Whew", says the leopard. "That was close. That dog nearly had me."
Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So, off he goes. But the dog saw him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figured that something must be up.
The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard. The leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine sunnuvabitch."
Now the dog sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back, and thinks, "What am I going to do now?" But instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers pretending he hasn't seen them yet ... ... and just when they get close enough to hear, the dog says, "Where's that damn monkey? I just can never trust him. I sent him off half an hour ago to bring me another leopard, and he's still not back!!"
Bailout story
It is a slow day in a little Greek village. The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
On this particular day a rich German tourist is driving through the village, stops at the local hotel and lays a €100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the €100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher takes the €100 note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer. The pig farmer takes the €100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.
The guy at the Farmers' Co-op takes the €100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the taverna. The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him "services" on credit.
The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the €100 note. The hotel proprietor then places the €100 note back on the counter so the rich traveler will not suspect anything. At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks up the €100 note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.
(No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole village is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism. And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how the bailout package works.)
Friday, October 9, 2015
From books
“You and I, it’s as though we have been taught to kiss in heaven and sent down to earth together, to see if we know what we were taught.”
—Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago“If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.”
—Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer“I took a photo of us mid-embrace. When I am old and alone, I will remember that I once held something truly beautiful.”
—Joe Dunthorne, Submarine“Yet everything that touches us, me and you,
takes us together like a violin’s bow,
which draws one voice out of two separate strings.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke, “Love Song”“Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.”
—Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn“You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.”
—John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
Beautiful words
While I was in standard 9, I said this to her - at a time when I didn't understand the "crush" thing.
"Reddy, my life is still beautiful, though I have been crushed by you for 3 long years." (She's a Reddy gaaru)
She smiled so ravishingly. Note, she didn't laugh, so that says I was not comical. So this was maybe nice, if not romantic. We were just good friends then.
One day during my 9th, at our library class, she was looking for some book to read at Science section, and I was standing aside her and said this,
"I hate science Reddy. Because there's no book explaining why you look so cute! Are you looking for that book too?"
For this, she grinned and nibbed my left arm with her pen.
I proposed her on the last session ending exam of 11th class, it was Social Sciences paper for her.
As we walked out together, out of our exam hall (my roll number is 16, hers 15), I asked her this,
"I have been having this doubt in social sciences, which is out of your syllabus. My question is, what will be my social science quotient if I ask you to marry me, and say I am in love with you, and have been so from for the past 5 years?"
Her answer, "I don't know jumbo but I am sure, only I should evaluate this question if you were to ask."
That was a green :D.
So, from here, what all I had said was, after we were lovers.
She bought her first phone, a Nokia N series, during our 12th special classes. She was clicking pictures of her friends. "Nice really, but give me the phone, I will take a picture of yours." I shouted. She heard me, and handed me her phone.
I was holding the phone with its camera on, and said this,
"Wait, I am sure this will get me an Oscar for best photograph."
At farewell speech, almost all our classmates, including my techers, knew the relationship we both shared, I made this point during the small speech we had to give.
"Ahead of us is now college, and for all of us, leaving school, our friends might be the hardest thing to accept at this juncture, unlike you all, I am clever, which is why I am taking one special person from this school to my life."
After joining Engineering, after my freshman day.
Texted her this,
"Hey Reddu, first day was wow. And one thing after seeing so many girls today. I thought only you were beautiful in this whole world for so many years. Damn, I didn't know I was so right."
Her reply, "Hi buju, great. And really? How many of them did you see to arrive at this conclusion?"
Me, "Almost all."
Her reply, "And you saw no one beautiful than me?"
Me, "Ya darl, not even one :-( I hope God shows mercy upon us to have a baby girl."
When she asked why I don't believe in God and religion,
"Its not like that. I believe in monotheism. I can't believe and worship you and him at the same time."
Once she asked me if I would leave her if I found a better girl, my response was
"Hard truth, of course. I would leave you at home and drop her at school. And you can leave me to pick her back to our home."
Need not greed
'There is enough for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed' is indeed an ingenious statement by an ingenious man called Mahatma Gandhi. There is no doubt about how true this statement is and there are many ways one can prove it.
The journey started after the creation of human being in this world. As man got matured he kept on inventing new things to get a better life and for a good living. His wants were not restricted, desires were boundary less and his doggedness of finding reason for everything made him an undefined creature. And that’s how an environment has been created in which we are living now. If we see this in a broader perspective, all this happened because of greed. It’s the man’s greed which made him the richest man in the world, at the same time it’s his greed which made the society unbalanced and unequal. He is not bothered about the limitations of one’s actions and breaching the rules of nature for self-fulfilment. His desire of becoming bigger than others has changed the destiny of mankind.
For many of us who live in a land of abundance, greed is not a sin, it is not even considered wrong, instead we now live in a world where we have idolized greed and use all kinds of glamorous names that make it look fashionable and desirable. Being wealthy is not wrong in itself, but glorifying the desire for wealth is terrible. We are privileged and blessed to have things, but the addiction to things can make us very disabled.
Rich Mullins nailed it when he said “It’s a cultural disability in America that we worship pleasure, leisure, and affluence”. Greed is a universal problem and is strongly rooted in our sinful nature; watch how quickly a child learns the word ‘mine’.
Man makes use of everything in their reach to satisfy their greed. One of the things that contribute a lot to their wealth and power is the Earth's own natural resources. Man, unfortunately has exploited these resources beyond the limit. When a country owns more resources, they are automatically richer. They use and sell the resources to develop their country. The greed comes in when different countries compete with one another to have more development.
The deforestation which has taken place due to commercial exploitation of trees for timber, resin, medicinal herbs, etc., the developing of new agricultural fields, over-grazing by animals, the coming up of new habitation (e.g. because of the construction of the Tehri dam), the building of roads mainly after the China invasion of 1962, tourism development and other development activities, increase in the population (men as well as animals), all have had an adverse affect on the environment and have brought about ecological imbalance.
In the villages of Garhwal there is watershed failure, which has resulted in both drought and flood conditions, soil erosion, landslides, changes in the microclimate, increase in the silting rate which has caused a rise of the river beds, loss of wildlife, drying up of natural springs on which the villagers depend for drinking water. It’s clear that the watershed failure is the result of deforestation which in turn is the result of man’s greed. Finally, the main culprit is the GREED.
The hymn dedicated to the earth in the Atharvaveda (12.1.12) sums up the traditional attitude of reverence:
Impart to us those vitalizing forces
that come, O Earth, from deep within your body,
Your central point, your navel; purify us wholly.
The Earth is mother; I am son of Earth,
The rain-giver is my father; may he shower
on us blessings!
But the values of reverence in the modern man have vapourated. They are degrading the soil by throwing waste wherever they like.This waste is created only because of more consumerism which is the result of greed. Man’s greed make him to buy as many things he wishes, which increases the waste that exploits the Earth. Earth can degrade itself some of the bio-degradable wastes but when it comes on non-biodegradable, toxic and E-waste Earth cannot. In turn the Earth itself is effected.
Farmer’s are also not lagging behind in showing their greed. They sow seeds of other crops immediately after one crop is harvested without giving some time for the soil to regain it nutrients. This kind of agriculture can help farmer make more money but after few years the land looses its fertility and is of no use. This shows how earth can’t satisfy man’s greed.
Every individual, has a responsibility in protecting the environment, if he/she is serious about leaving a world for the next generation to inherit.There is a need now to curb the unhealthy consumption that the world has become slave too as there is a direct link between excessive production and environmental degradation. One clear example is that of the increase in the use of cars with each member of a family claiming the need to own and drive his/her own vehicle. The 700 million automobiles of the world are already using up two-thirds of the gasoline and releasing carbon dioxide that has already ushered in the era of global warming and the greenhouse effect. The desire to control the oil resources has also seen the worst war of the 21st century and one wonders what others will follow with environmentalists warning that the next wars will be those fought over water, which is likely to become a commodity in short supply.
Man is still going on increasing his desires and his greeds and 2 questions are still left unanswered.
Will MAN be able to find another planet in the universe similar to Earth to migrate?
Will MAN be able to alter that planet to make it suitable for our living?
Monday, October 5, 2015
Man o Man poem
Don't know who wrote this.. Hats off to him
Man O Man!
When without money,
eats vegetables at home;
When has money,
eats the same vegetables in a fine restaurant.
.
When without money, rides bicycle;
When has money rides the same ‘exercise machine’.
.
When without money walks to earn food
When has money, walks to burn fat;
Man O Man! Never fails to deceive thyself!
.
When without money,
wishes to get married;
When has money,
wishes to get divorced.
.
When without money,
wife becomes secretary;
When has money,
secretary becomes wife.
.
When without money, acts like a rich man;
When has money acts like a poor man.
Man O Man! Never can tell the simple truth!
.
Says share market is bad,
but keeps speculating;
Says money is evil,
but keeps accumulating.
.
Says high Positions are lonely,
but keeps wanting them.
.
Says gambling & drinking is bad,
but keeps indulging;
Man O Man! Never means what he says and never says what he means..
MATURITY
And for those like me who look the same things, at the same place but with a different angle, here's what I feel maturity is:
- No status updates
- No picture uploads
- Stopped throwing tantrums
- An addiction to quora
And all of us " THE QUORANS" discussing and sharing good and intellectual works here, is the best example of being mature.
** From the comments section below what I can make out is people have strong sentiments associated with facebook and whatsapp. I don't have anything against these nor the people who share good posts and their experiences so that it may be of help to others.
What I actually mean by maturity is that bridge with show off on one end and actual knowledge base on the other which many tend to cross in order to seek satisfaction.
It's not possible for me to reply to every comment and so it was better I make myself clear here.
Also from this I'll remark
Maturity is when you understand that each person on this earth has a right to their own perceptions and you cannot seek justifications for the prejudices you hold. Instead you value and respect that. That's the highest form of maturity.
Lifestyle inflation, mindfulness and meditation
A long time ago, a girl I was dating, asked me a question. The question was so bizarre I had to stop everything to digest it.
She asked me when I would start living according to my status.
I was confused. Status? What status? I have a status? What do you mean?
She continued. Well you make decent money. Yet you drive an older car. You live in a poor neighborhood. You should live in a better place and have a better car. You have a status to maintain.
I could not believe it. I read there are people who buy things to show wealth. Someone is yet to buy a Porsche for fuel economy.
But, to feel an obligation to spend… Spend to meet societal expectations… I have yet to come across that. Why would I spend my money to conform to what others expect of me?
This brings me to the OP's question. Here's my advice on lifestyle changes to save money. Actually, it's only one change, but it's big. It will save you thousands (if not millions) and will simplify your life tremendously...
AVOID LIFESTYLE INFLATION
As you move thru various life stages, your income will (hopefully) increase. As your income grows so will your expenses. This is a definition of a lifestyle inflation.
The increase in expenses is usually part of “keeping up” with peers. Making sure you drive the “right” car, live in the “right” neighborhood, and have kids to go to the “right” school. It’s a status-related spending, a type of conspicuous consumption.
Consider a simple example. Say, I currently work at a marketing agency. My current salary is $80k/year. I’ve been doing some great work lately and I got promoted. My salary went up by 30%.
Currently I live in a less glamorous suburb of Detroit, called Madison Heights. I own a 3 bed, 2 bath home, 1450 sq ft. I bought this house for $145k recently. My current property tax is $2.6k.
Inspired by my recent financial success, I decided to move to more affluent suburb of Bloomfield township. A "right" neighborhood.
I bought a similar-size 1450 sq ft house,with 3 bed/2 bath, for $227k. My new property tax is $5.5k/year. (By the way, these are real houses and tax rates I found on Real Estate Listings, Homes For Sale, Housing Data.)
Assuming 4% interest rate on my mortgage, $29K down (20% of $145k) and $1k insurance, my payment on the old house is $854. My payment on the new house under the same assumptions is $1,465.
That’s an increase of $611 (71% hike). (I know that mortgage interest is tax deductible, but that wont change my message if you continue reading.)
Of course, things get worse. There are hidden costs of living in a wealthy suburb.
I notice that my neighbor is driving a BMW 5 series, while I’m still schlepping around in my Ford Fusion. So I decide to get a BMW too. Here’s the math: Ford Fusion costs $22k, BMW 5 Series starts at $50k. Assuming 6% taxes, no down, and 60 month loan at 2.9%, my payment will go from $420 to $1,050, about $600 increase (150% hike).
At this point, I have exhausted most of my 30% raise (assuming 30% tax rate, my salary would increase by about 1,400 per month). However, I have access to cheap credit, and I continue to “keep up.” Boats, private schools, plastic surgeries, even lawns are all part of maintaining status.
So, now I’m in debt. My new job is taking more time and energy, since I am getting paid more to work longer hours. I’m stressed out about my monthly payments and I’m overworked.
What should have been a road towards prosperity quickly turns into a highway toward financial ruin.
How to Avoid Lifestyle Inflation?
Here are my actionable strategies.
Stay Away from High-Income Neighborhoods,
There is no way around it. If you think you can live in a wealthy suburb and not engage in a lifestyle inflation, think again.
We are hard-wired to follow crowds. That’s what ensured our survival in the past. We have mirror neurons in our brain. The sole purpose of these neurons is to mimic other people’s behavior (and choices). Your willpower does not stand a chance against thousands of years of evolution.
Living among affluent residents has another negative consequence. Allow me to illustrate. Say you’ve been saving to buy a car of your dreams. You have been saving for a couple of years.
The car of your dreams is BMW 7 Series (price tag $94k). You finally saved enough and bought your coveted vehicle. As you pull up to your house in a shiny BMW you notice your neighbor just bought Bentley Continental GT ($200k vehicle). That’s a better, shinier, and more expensive vehicle.
How would you feel towards your BMW now? Are you still excited about it? Probably not. You might even hate it now. What you are experiencing is called relative deprivation.
It is relative, because your car (while being very expensive) is worse than the Bentley. It is deprivation because you think you are entitled to have the Bentley as well. But you cannot afford it.
The irony is you just bought a $100k car and yet you feel poor.
Un-freak-believable.
Reduce Advertising Exposure
There are two problems with advertising.First, it puts ideas in your head. It does so subtly.
When you are exposed to advertising as an adult, you have enough critical reasoning skills to question its premise. If you want to question it, of course (many people don’t).
However, if you were exposed to advertising as a kid, you grew up accepting these ideas without questioning. You grow up thinking you have to maintain status, for example. Buy diamonds. Wear a Rolex.
Advertising has been successful inpropagating the idea that you deserve/worth/entitled to (insert an item). The message is so widespread and common,we get comfortable with the notion that self-worth = having/buying something. And that you have to spend to maintain or show your worth.
This strategy, especially, works for things we don’t really need: Jewelry, beauty products, luxury items.
That’s why the advertising strategy for these products is to link spending to self-esteem,or to self-worth. Consider this famous example:
Here, your worth is explicitly linked to a product. As a product gets more expensive the link gets more subtle, more nuanced. Here’s an example:
Here, the relationship between the product and self-esteem is less explicit. Bill Gates is important -> has Rolex watch -> are not you important? -> get Rolex watch too. And, just like L’oreal, Rolex managed to put the word “worth” in the ad.
I like the watch ads especially because you can buy a watch for $10 in Walmart. Functionally, this watch is no different from a Rolex. Also, almost everyone has a cell phone, and it has watch in it. You don’t really need one now.
So to make someone spend thousands on watch you have to really dig deep inside the person’s psyche. Here’s another one. This watch will show everyone what you are made of… Who you really are…
Do you see a pattern?
Because there’s no limit to your importanceor self-esteem, you will keep spending to uphold it. Brilliant strategy.
The largest source of advertising is TV. Stop watching TV.
Another problem with advertising is it encourages over-consumption. It induces you to buy shit you don’t need. Or at least don’t need right now. You can drive your car for another year, but you can get a C Class Mercedes for only $399/month if you act now! At these prices, you lose if you don’t buy!
Practice Mindfulness (Buddhism)
Completely different strategy, albeit the weird one.
Let me preface. I’m not telling you to change your religion or join a Tibetan monastery.
Moreover, I’m not a Buddhist (I do mediate). I just take what I need from the doctrine and leave everything else out. So, I will list a couple of relevant concepts from Buddhism and a specific technique on how to put them in place. I’ll list resources below my post if case you need to read more.
First, the mindfulness teaches us to accept the present situation. We all spend hours imaging how different our life would be if we had something we don’t have right now. Better spouse, better house, better car, more money, more stuff, etc, etc.
One book described this tendency as a “mental time travel.” Not only does mental time traveling rob us from real-life experiences. It actually makes us miss real life.
Practicing mindfulness will make you more content with what you have. And importantly, with what you don’t have.
Second, Buddhism teaches us that there’s no concept of self. It’s an artificial construct of the thinking mind. The thinking mind is part of the mind that generates thoughts. It’s a part that’s responsible for continuous chatter in your brain.
Since we are the product of our thoughts,and those come and go, the idea of self is a response of the thinking mind to make us feel more permanent.
The implication of this is intriguing.
Imagine how many times do you get tortured by inner critic for not being good enough? In comparison to your ex, your ex’s boyfriend, your coworker, your friend. You are not as successful, not as thin, not as smart, not as rich, not as strong, not as beautiful, not as fit, etc etc. All these thoughts are the product of continuous comparison of your self to others. Now imagine, there is no self.
Suddenly, all this mental torment is gone. After all, if there is no self, then all thiscomparison is meaningless.
And all those ads targeting your ego are suddenly useless as well.
Finally, purchasing decisions (especially decisions to buy status items) are inherentlyemotional. Say you want to buy a watch. Functionally speaking, there is no difference between Timex and Rolex. Yet, the decision to buy Rolex is more emotional.
How Does Mindfulness Work
The part of the brain in charge of emotions is called the amygdala. It is a more primal part of the brain; it evolved first and is found even in reptilians.
Research showed that Buddhist monks have smaller amygdalae and much thicker pre-frontal cortices. The pre-frontal cortex handles concentration, awareness, and decision making. The pre-frontal area has evolved recently (evolutionary speaking) and is found in mammals (i.e in more complex brains).
Furthermore, the functional connection (times the areas of the brain move together) between amygdala/pre-frontal cortex and the rest of the brain gets weaker/stronger. Basically, your higher level areas of the brain start dominating lower-level areas. You are managing your emotions/feelings/compulsions better.
The scale and magnitude of changes are directly correlated to the number of meditation hours.
Which brings us to my next point. There’sonly one way to attain these benefits. It’smeditation.
Meditation is sitting down with your eyes closed and concentrating your attention on your breath. Your attention will wander from time to time, and you gently bring it back. Look at the resources at the end for more information.
Meditation is a deliberate practice to disassociate yourself from your thoughts. It took me about 2 years to understand that.
When I first started meditating I thought the goal was not to have any thoughts. I was wrong.
The goal is to watch your thoughts without identifying with them. Buddhists compare the process to sitting on a side of the highway and watching cars passing by. Sometimes you jump on one of them and it takes you down the highway. But then you remember, get off, and watch cars passing you by again.
As I practiced my meditation, I became aware of what was going on in my head. I startrealizing that my thoughts are not me. They just come and go and some of them make me feel a certain way. I don’t have to react to them, though I often do.
If I learn that my neighbor has just bought a new car. Or my coworker made more money than I did, I observe thoughts that pop up in my head. I see them come and go and I notice how they make me feel. I also remind myself these ideas and emotions are not me. If Ichoose to identify with them, I let these ideas hijack my mind. I let them define me.
I used to ruminate about injustices (either perceived or real) I had in my life and people who caused them. I would get angry and filled with rage as I replayed these situations again and again. When these ruminations happen now, I ask myself if I am being taken for a ride.
I still get angry/mad/jealous/upset, but the intensity of emotions is weaker and its duration is shorter.
If you practice meditation on a regular basis, it will make you content, accepting of yourself, and emotionally stable. You are less likely to overspend, make a bad financial decision, or engage in compulsive shopping. Meditation has the potential to benefit you in other aspects of life as well.
Unfortunately, this strategy requires time and determination. For it to work, it has to become a habit. But, it took years to become who you are, so it will take years to change how you think.
Resources:This app helped me to build a regular daily practice (not affiliated link): HeadspaceMeditation impact on brainWhat is mindfulness?
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Mr.Robot final episode
Is any of it real? I mean, look at this. Look at it! A world built on fantasy. Synthetic emotions in the form of pills. Psychological warfare in the form of advertising. Mind-altering chemicals in the form of... food! Brainwashing seminars in the form of media. Controlled isolated bubbles in the form of social networks. Real? You want to talk about reality? We haven't lived in anything remotely close to it since the turn of the century. We turned it off, took out the batteries, snacked on a bag of GMOs while we tossed the remnants in the ever-expanding Dumpster of the human condition. We live in branded houses trademarked by corporations built on bipolar numbers jumping up and down on digital displays, hypnotizing us into the biggest slumber mankind has ever seen. You have to dig pretty deep, kiddo, before you can find anything real. We live in a kingdom of bullshit. A kingdom you've lived in for far too long. So don't tell me about not being real. I'm no less real than the fucking beef patty in your Big Mac.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Interesting conversation with a girl part 3
Part 3: The Date
After preening for the umpteenth time, I kicked myself out of the house. I had to look my absolute best today. My brain had prepared a checklist:
**
· Brushed twice? Check.
· Rinsed with Hydrogen Peroxide? Check.
· Shaved like crazy? Check
· Hair Serum? Check
· Face cream? Check
· Violet Half-Sleeve Shirt? Check.
· Black Jeans? Check.
· Woodland Shoes? Check.
· Perfume? Check
· Chewing gums? Check
· Got a rose for her? Check
· Got a book for her? Check
· Looking Handsome? No comments. (But yeah, better than that geek who went to the library.)
**
(I reached our reserved table ten minutes ahead of schedule. I was wondering what she would wear and how she would react, upon seeing me.
There she came.7 pm, on the dot. Wow! She just seemed sexier. She walked with a panache which could only come from a smart, beautiful and a confident woman. She wore a black sleeveless gown down to her knees. Sexy but not vulgar. Exactly as I had expected. She was wearing a pearl necklace and black studded earrings. She had tied her silky black hair up in a bun with a couple of stray strands kissing her cheek, which formed a part of her triangular jaw. I felt jealous of them. She had a beauty spot to the left of her lower lip and a nose as sharp as her wit. Her strawberry-colored lips were glossy, but their shine was overpowered by her lightning smile as she made an eye contact with me; while putting the hair strands behind an ear. She was a doe-eyed beauty.)
**She is an Angel! Dude, you are dating an Angel!**
She:"Hi Handsome!!"
**Okay. CHECK**
(That was it. I was overwhelmed beyond limits. I simply froze. I was looking at her like a child looking at a rainbow for the very first time. Without breaking eye contact, I gave her the red rose. My hand was moving like that of a robot whose battery was critically low. I think that was also because of the fact that I had worked out extra hard at the gym.)
She(Blushing): "Thank you."
(I simply smiled.)
She:"Say something."
(I messaged her.)
[ Me-That is all I can say when I am speechless.
She- Sweet. You do know that we need to talk on a date? Right?
Me-Yes.
She-Speak up!
Me- No.
She-Okay. Here's the deal. You shall receive a kiss from me tonight if you start speaking.
Me- Kiss? Where? The cheek or the lips?
She- That depends on how fast you start speaking. The faster, the better.]
Me:" Hi! How are you? I missed you so much! The wait was..... (I spoke at a speed which sounded like watching a Japanese movie at 3x speed.)
She:" Wow! That is one good way to tame a guy. And by fast I meant the time to start, not words per minute."
Me:"Okay. So what am I getting?"
She:"Is that all you guys can think about? Anyway, let us not ruin the suspense ."
Me:" Suspense huh? Well played!" (I fantasized.)
She:" Are you imagining it right now?"
Me:"I am most certainly not!" (My eyes shifted for a couple of seconds.)
She:"You liar!"
Me:" Okay. I am good with imagination. I can't help it. You brought up the topic anyway!"
She:"Point taken. So, what do you do? "
Me:"I cup your face in my palms."
She:"Moron! I am asking about your profession."
Me:"Oh! That? I am a Mechanical Engineer currently employed at KC Corp."
She:" Your awesome flirting skills totally second that."
Me:"Haha! Yeah it is really bad. You know in our class of 130 we had only one girl."
She:"My God! So your ex was from which branch?"
Me:" I don't have an ex."
She:" What do you mean? You have never been in a relationship before?"
Me:" Fact of my life."
She:" Unbelievable. Don't you want to know about my ex?"
Me:" Tell me when you're comfortable. A first date is not a good time to discuss that variable. You always end up getting extraneous solutions."
She:" Haha. How do you know these details?"
Me:" Remember where we met? I read."
She:" My eyes?"
Me:" Have you memorized our conversation? No wait, there was a recording device, wasn't there?"
She:" Every moment that we have spent together so far has been recorded in my mental hard disk."
Me:" I hope that it has a lot of capacity then. At least, infinite."
(We looked into each other's eyes for a long time. For the first time ever, we were at a loss of words. We had dinner with a few discussions here and there about our families and relevant past. I found out she had completed her MBA and was pursuing her PhD in Economics. I remembered that I needed to do a masters soon. We went to have ice cream after dinner.)
Me:" Here's your cone and a book for you."
She:"Thank you. 'Journey... to.. the.... East' ?' "
Me:"Yeah. Come back lady!"
(Her loud laughter sounded like that of a ghost in-charge of a haunted mansion. The clouds rumbled ominously, making the metaphor seem so real.)
She(suspiciously): "You bought a book just to make this joke?"
Me: "Hey! I bought it last year. It is a mystery fiction story of a secret society and a journey that transcends through space and time. Although, it can definitely be used to make jokes."
(There was thunder again.)
She:"I think it is going to rain and I left my coat in the car."
Me: "Good. I am sure the car will keep it dry."
She:"Hey YOU said the ice-cream shop was close by."
Me:"I have my jacket , don't worry."
She:"Oh! So like they show in movies, you will give me your jacket."
Me: "Mad or what? I don't want to get drenched. I was merely offering to share."
She:"Boy you are moving really fast, aren't you?"
Me(innocently):"No. This is the slowest I have ever walked."
(The clouds rumbled for the fourth time and it started raining heavily.)
Me:"Code Red. I repeat. Code Red. Ma'am, you are requested to enter this protective jacket."
(We barely managed to share the jacket, since I was particularly muscular. I knew it was a stupid idea, but I did not want to lose out on the opportunity. She knew it too.)
She:"Okay. This is not working. We both are getting drenched. Let us wait somewhere for the rain to subside. Maybe, under that Banyan tree."
(She pointed towards some tree like object in the dark. I strained my eyes.)
Me:"How do you know that's a Banyan tree? I can barely see it."
She:"Is that your concern right now?"
(She had a point. After dinner we had walked away from our vehicles for close to a kilometer; engrossed in our conversation. We waited under the tree whose identity was still equivocal. I removed my stupid jacket which was wet from the inside now; making it pointless to wear. I noticed her stare at my biceps which were emphasized due to sticking of the soaked shirt. I smiled. She removed her hair pin, opened her hair and adjusted it with both hands. It was my turn to stare.)
Me:"Why the hell does it need to rain every day?"
She:"Maybe that's why people call it the "Rainy Season"?"
Me:"I am not very fond of the "Rainy Season". I have some bad memories associated with it."
She:"Why? What happened?"
Me:"Well, for starters, my school always reopened after vacations during monsoons. Then there were the bullies who threw me into every puddle they found; punishing me for topping the class."
She:"Oh dear! My coochie pie! Did they also snatch away your chocolates?"
Me:"Yes. Actually!" (I faked a cry.)
She:"You are so cute."
(She hugged me. The feeling was beyond words. She was the softest thing that I'd ever touched.Well, apart from my teddy bear Fufu, which I stopped hugging upon getting thrashed by my mother. Simply the feeling of having her in my arms made me feel on top of the world. I was leaning against the tree; her head on my chest. I could feel her warm breaths. I was thankful to the Rain Gods for making this happen. I stopped hating the Monsoon Season that moment onward. It was time for new memories now. Memories with my Rose. We were in that position for around ten minutes. I wondered if she had fallen asleep.)
Me:"Rosey?" (I whispered in her right ear)
She:"Hmm?"
Me:"Are you going to sleep like this?"
She:"I would love to."
Me:"Not that I mind, but this stem has a sharp edge which has been poking my butt for the last ten minutes. I noticed it just now and it HURTS! Ouch!!"
(She laughed hard. I shifted from my position. She whispered back into my ear.)
She:"Adi? I am surprised that you didn't ask for your reward."
(I whispered back. I think we had started playing Chinese Whispers, unintentionally.)
Me:"I have never stopped thinking about that. I did not ask you because I did not want you to feel compelled. Our nascent relationship is way beyond this."
(She looked up into my eyes. I could see intense admiration in them. I could see the passion which I was feeling all along. She brought her lips close to my face and stayed there; maintaining eye contact. **Oh God this is the moment! Please choose lips. Please God! Let it be lips. What is she doing? Acquiring her target? Oh come on lady, do it!** She did it. Her lips brushed against mine for a couple of seconds. Then she pressed them. I was on cloud eleven. For a moment, I couldn't believe what had just happened. The feeling was pure ecstasy. It was like kissing a jelly. After close to fifteen seconds we broke contact but she was still very close. So close that, the warm breaths that I had earlier felt on my chest were obliging my lips now.)
She:"That's your reward." (She said looking towards the ground, probably hiding her tears. I think it was something to do with her past.)
(I had a lump in my throat.)
Me:"The secret to your name has been revealed sweetheart! It is your lips; just like The Rose."
(She looked into my eyes again. Maybe she no longer cared if I found out about her tears. Her moist eyes sparkled like diamonds. They were looking even more beautiful than the other night.)
(I cupped her face with my palms. I wiped the tears formed over her cheeks using my thumbs.)
Me: "As gorgeous as your eyes are looking right now, this is the last time I want to see you cry. You are with ME now!"
(We kissed again. This time deep. The passion was like a raging inferno. I don't remember for how long we kissed.
The only thing I remember is waking up below that tree. I still wasn't convinced it was a Banyan tree. There was a hint of dawn. The rain had stopped. I was sitting on the wet, muddy ground with my back against the bark. My lips felt really sore. I could barely move my mouth. She was still asleep. Her head once again resting on my chest. My nose felt moist. I had probably caught cold.)
"Aa...aaan..aanchoo...."
(She woke up with a start; glaring at me.)
She:"Is this the way to wake someone up?"
(She looked even more pretty when angry.)
Me:"Ask that to the cold virusss...Aaan.....aanchooo."
(She smiled and stood up.)
She:"Well, this is the craziest and also the most romantic thing I have ever done in my life."
Me:"Yeah me too. My numb rear seconds that. Also, considering my history of relationships, any romantic thing I do with you will end up being the most romantic thing I have ever done."
(She smiled while helping me up and gave me a tight slap on my right butt-cheek.)
She:"Get it some massage and it will be alright."
Me: "Care to oblige?"
She:"Control those horses............ horny creature!"
(I smiled)
Me: "Alright! Let's get some coffee and head home."
She:"You know, for a guy who has never been in a relationship before, you are a really good kisser."
Me:"I have to thank the library for so many reasons. Then there is YouTube too."
(She giggled again, the way I always wanted to see her. I could do anything to see her smile.)
We walked towards the horizon hand in hand, our fingers entangled; gazing at the early morning sun without a care in the world. I felt her glance from the side. I looked back. I think we both knew what that meant. It was happening. Happening fast, but yes, it was indeed happening.
After all, you never know when love strikes you.
Insteresting conversation with a girl part 2
Part 2: The Phone Call
I felt there was so much information in those two lines. My brain initiated the self talk:
**What do three smileys mean? Did I make her laugh only thrice?No, it was more than that, I hope. But, there is something about the number three?Three is the number of words in 'I Love You'. Wait. Three is also the number of words in 'I Hate You'. No. Why would she hate me? If she hated me, she would not have given her number.Wait. Is the number genuine or did she just pull a fast one on me? Only a phone call can answer all these questions.**
I started musing; thinking about what I would say to her and how she would react. I was rolling over the bed from side to side; thinking. Thinking. Thinking. BAM! I fell off my bed.
**Ouch! That hurt! Hey nutcase! Stop this nonsense. 'Falling for someone' is just a figure of speech. These plans are no good. Just be the guy you were in the evening. Just be that spontaneous smartass.**
So, I made a plan that I wouldn't plan.
(The following evening, I dialed the number given to me. I was curious as to who would answer the call or if the number did exist. I hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.
I heard a dial tone. **Okay, it is a real number. Stage 1 clear.** My heart started beating rapidly. I was breathing as if I had just attempted to break the world record of holding the breath for the longest time. Five rings down the line, someone answered.)
"Hello?"
(It was her. **Stage 2 clear.** The feeling was better than winning that world record.)
** Dude, this is real! Stop being so pessimistic. Step on the pedal and bring up your A game!**
"Hello??"
Me: "Am I talking to Ms. Rose?"
She: "Yeah?"
Me: "Ma'am this is to inform you that, a table for two has been booked at L9 Cafe for tomorrow at 7 pm."
She: "Okay but who am I talking to?"
Me: "The guy you are having dinner with."
She: "My Goodness!! How did you change your voice?"
Me: "Let's say it is one of my lesser known skills."
She: "What's with the fake British accent?"
Me: "Hey! I practiced those lines 15 times! Acknowledge the effort!"
She: "The British are excellent with phone manners. You need to introduce yourself before asking for the person on the other end or conveying a message."
Me: "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you. When are the classes starting?"
(She giggled.)
She: "I knew you wouldn't be following the 3 Day Rule."
Me: "How so?"
She: "Because you don't rely on techniques and cliches. You are spontaneous and I feel you speak from your heart."
Me: "Yeah beware! That thing is coming after you....really fast!"
(She gave that amazing laugh. A sound which was melody to me.)
She: "What if I said I was busy tomorrow?"
Me: "Okay there is no reservation. I was just confirming your presence. My next call would be to L9 Cafe, however."
She: " You are really an idiot!"
Me: "Yeah! I fell for you. Head first!"
She: "I think I know that feeling."
Me: "I am kind of banking on that."
She: "I can't wait to see you tomorrow."
Me: "Well a great Chinese proverb goes like this: It is the space between the bars, that holds the cage. The waits between our dates are what will make them special."
She: "How can you be so sure of having more than a first date?"
Me: "Well yesterday I wasn't even sure of having a first date; when you left the room unannounced. Then I found my bookmark. Seems, I am good at picking up on hints."
She: "I am sorry if you were hurt when I left like that. I was praying that you'd notice it and call me as soon as possible. "
Me: "No don't be. Of 'course, it felt brutal for a few seconds. But hey, I liked your style. That's what made me admire you even more. Even you are unconventional.That was one hell of a way to give someone your number! I got that bookmark laminated, by the way. "
She: "I don't want this call to end. "
Me: "Well a......."
She: "No! Don't give me that crappy Chinesething of yours!"
Me: "Alright! But take it easy lady! We are going to a Chinese place tomorrow!"
She: "How did you know I liked Chinese?"
Me: "Yesterday you were reading 'Journey to the West' by Wu Cheng’ en; I took a blind shot, which reached its target just about now."
She: "Ridiculous logic!"
Me: "I am an idiot. Remember?"
She: "You are also cute."
Me: "Are you flirting with me?"
She: " No! I was talking to my candle, right here."
Me: "You are good. Too good! Okay. See you tomorrow. I need to make a call to the restaurant before they are sleepy."
She:"Bye."
A glimpse of Part-3
Part 3: The Date
After preening for the umpteenth time, I kicked myself out of the house. I had to look my absolute best today. My brain had prepared a checklist:
**
Brushed twice? Check.Rinsed with Hydrogen Peroxide? Check.Shaved like crazy? CheckHair Serum? CheckFace cream? CheckViolet Half-Sleeve Shirt? Check.Black Jeans? Check.Woodland Shoes? Check.Perfume? CheckChewing gums? CheckGot a rose for her? CheckGot a book for her? CheckLooking Handsome? No comments. (But yeah, better than that geek who went to the library.) **
(I reached our reserved table ten minutes ahead of schedule. I was wondering what she would wear and how she would react, upon seeing me.
There she came.7 pm, on the dot. Wow! She just seemed sexier. She walked with a panache which could only come from a smart, beautiful and a confident woman. She wore a black sleeveless gown down to her knees. Sexy but not vulgar. Exactly as I had expected. She was wearing a pearl necklace and black studded earrings. She had tied her silky black hair up in a bun with a couple of stray strands kissing her cheek, which formed a part of her triangular jaw. I felt jealous of them. She had a beauty spot to the left of her lower lip and a nose as sharp as her wit. Her strawberry-colored lips were glossy, but their shine was overpowered by her lightning smile as she made an eye contact with me; while putting the hair strands behind an ear. She was a doe-eyed beauty.)
**She is an Angel! Dude, you are dating an Angel!**
Interesting Conversation with a girl
I'd only gone to the library to read a book recommended by a friend, but never in my wildest dreams had I thought that there'd be a blackout with a torrential downpour outside, and I'd be stranded with the prettiest girl I'd ever seen. She broke my reverie by sighing loudly. I walked up to her.
She (Sighing): "Oh no!"
(The state of alertness which darkness engenders, brought out the spontaneous guy in me.)
Me (Curious): "Are you afraid of ghosts?"
She: "What? No......I mean..... I don't believe in such stuff!"
Me: "Me too. But, I don't know why, whenever I am in an old, large, spooky, dark place like this and it's raining outside, the probability of existence of ghosts seems very high."
She: "Spooky, large, old, dark." (She emphasized on each word.)
Me (Clueless): "Huh? Yeah, that's what I just said."
She: "No! Your order of adjectives was wrong."
Me (Digesting slowly): "Order... of.... adjectives. Hmm. Is that what this place does to you?"
(She chuckled.)
She: "Hi! I am Rose."
Me: "Rose. The noun or the verb?"
(She chortled again.)
She: "Look, my parents were not that grammar conscious!"
Me: "And look how you turned out!"
(We both laughed.)
Me: "I am Aditya."
(The librarian brought a candle. By the look on his face, he seemed as freaked out as me; watching two people talk in complete darkness. As opposed to ghosts, crazy people were very much real!)
Me: "Well, I have heard about candlelight dinners, but candlelight reading sessions are new to me."
She: "Don't get any ideas, mister."
Me: "But I thought people came to libraries for ideas, for enlightenment!"
She: "Funny of you to say 'enlightenment' during a blackout."
Me: "Hey! Let's not undermine the efforts of the candle. These babies have been very useful to people, you know; to help them bond, have romantic conversations."
She(mischievously): "Are you flirting with me?"
Me: "Yeah. Rule No.1 of Professional Flirting:When you want to flirt with a girl, praise a candle instead!"
(She giggled.)
She: "What are you reading?"
Me: "Your eyes! The most beautiful pair I have ever seen. Now, I can see the flickering of the flame in them. Those glittering pearls have the power to make time stand still!"
She(overwhelmed): "Wow! That is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me. Now you are definitely flirting with me!"
Me: "Well. I took the last line from the Sci-Fi book I am reading."
(She laughed really hard.)
She: "You plagiarist!"
Me: "Hey! I just gave credit to the source!"
She: "But you used it to try to impress me before mentioning that!"
Me: "So you are impressed by me now?"
She: "Didn't you hear the word 'try' ?"
Me: "Okay, let's see, I am in this candle lit room alone, with a beautiful, intelligent girl who has a good sense of humor and it is raining outside.You can't blame me for trying. I am not a wuss!"
She: "So what are you?"
Me: "I am not a self-pompous person either. People are free to judge."
She: "Good. I like modest people. Especially, if they are smart and funny."
Me: "Were those compliments in disguise?"
She: "Why do you need to convert my generalizations to attributions ?"
Me: "Don't know. Why do you need to play games?"
(She giggled again and made a deep eye contact.)
She : "I don't remember the last time I laughed so much."
Me: "Well, I hope you shall remember this time."
(The power was back. The rain had also significantly receded.)
She:"Okay. Time to go."
(We prepared to leave. I went to the shelf to collect my bag.)
She: "Hey! You dropped your bookmark here."
I went back to the table and picked up the bookmark. I looked around. She was gone. I couldn't understand. Why had she gone away so abruptly? There was no mention of whether we could meet again. Not even a proper goodbye. I became morose.
I looked at the bookmark again.
There was something scribbled on it in a cute handwriting:
Rose:99224188*#
Looking forward to that candle light dinner with you!
:) :) :)